Puglia approves FoodExp Skills 2026 tourism innovation project

The Puglia regional government has approved the ‘FoodExp Skills 2026’ project, an advanced laboratory designed to study, monitor, and innovate professional skills within the tourism and hospitality sectors. The initiative aims to strengthen the link between vocational training and regional tourism development.

Allocating 85,000 euros from the 2026 regional budget, the project will be integrated into the 9th edition of the ‘FoodExp – Food Life Experience’ International Forum, scheduled for November 2–4, 2026, in Lecce. The forum’s central theme, ‘Matrix,’ will focus on the intersection of territories, cultures, and innovation while promoting Italian cuisine and ‘Made in Italy’ products.

This project evolves from previous regional initiatives, including the 2024 ‘Hackfest Hospitality Industry’ and the 2025 ‘L’Hakhathon.’ Unlike traditional trade fairs, FoodExp Skills 2026 intends to function as an evidence-based field laboratory. It will utilize sixty experts organized into multidisciplinary thematic tables to identify specific professional needs and initiate the formal pre-validation of skills within the food and tourism industries.